Read Online The Last Bride (DiCarlo Brides #6) by Heather Tullis - Free Book Online
Authors: Heather Tullis
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“Look, I’ve been a jerk and you have reason to hate me.” He paused on the path and turned to face her again. “Can we call a truce? Like, for real this time? I hope I’m over being a jerk to you.” He held up his hand as if afraid she would misinterpret the statement. “I don’t want to date you, and I most certainly don’t want to marry you, no matter what your father thought about us. But considering all of the connections between us now, I would like it if we could be friends.”
She let the sting of his unsolicited rejection settle slightly. “I could probably handle that.” It would be better than the hostility that had filled the air between them for most of the past year. Still, she didn’t want to dwell on their change to friends , either, as being stuck in the friend zone wasn’t what she wanted. Switching the subject as quickly as possible was a must. “Jeremy said you know all of the best rock climbing locations around here. Any suggestions for places I could try? Close would be best since I usually can’t get away for more than an afternoon.”
Gage smiled. “Oh, yeah. I’m going out to Pistol Rock soon; it’s not far from here. A great climb.” He hesitated for two beats, then pushed ahead. “You shouldn’t climb alone and I know your sisters aren’t nature girls. Want to join me? You know, as friends.”
So this wasn’t a date. It was just two people recreating together? She was probably stupid to agree considering she was attracted to him and he just said he wasn’t the least interested in her. Jonquil decided she’d never been that smart anyway. But she wouldn’t mention the outing to her sisters, who would make more of it than warranted. “Sure. Let me check my calendar. I’ll text you with the days I can wiggle free for an afternoon.”
“Great.”
The silence this time wasn’t as uncomfortable, but Jonquil didn’t let it linger before asking about the upcoming mountain bike festival in July. She might as well pick his brain on local recreation, even if her secret longings would have to remain that way. Secret.
Gage was still at the office at seven o’clock. The skeleton staff he kept on in the summer had all gone home hours earlier and he promised himself when he finished proofing the advertising copy for the mountain bike festival that he would find some dinner and relax in front of the television for the night.
His impromptu hike with Jonquil a few days earlier came back to him again and he smiled. When he gave her half a chance, she was really good company. Much better than her little sister, who would be fun to flirt with if that’s all she was interested in. Their lunch was enough for him to be sure that they didn’t have enough in common for anything more. Even if he were interested in a real relationship. Which he wasn’t.
A door slammed and he nearly reached for the Glock he carried at the small of his back when he heard high heels clicking along the hallway. The footsteps weren’t the smooth gait you expected from a woman, but half tripping and uneven.
Gage rose from his chair just as Natalie staggered in, her hair in disarray, her linen jacket missing a couple of buttons and gaping open over a camisole. A smudge on her face looked suspiciously like a bruise. He hurried to her. “What happened? Are you okay?”
Natalie slumped against him, crying. “I’m sorry, I thought I was being smart, but I’ve messed up everything.” She sobbed and gasped between the words, clinging to him like she hadn’t done since they were kids.
“What happened?” He led her to one of the chairs facing his desk. “Do you need to see a doctor?”
“No, I’m fine, really.” She sank into the chair and covered her face with her hands, still crying, but not as hard as before. “I did something really stupid. I thought I knew. I mean, I couldn’t miss, but then everything went wrong and now I’m in big trouble.”
Gage sat across from her and took her hands, his
She let the sting of his unsolicited rejection settle slightly. “I could probably handle that.” It would be better than the hostility that had filled the air between them for most of the past year. Still, she didn’t want to dwell on their change to friends , either, as being stuck in the friend zone wasn’t what she wanted. Switching the subject as quickly as possible was a must. “Jeremy said you know all of the best rock climbing locations around here. Any suggestions for places I could try? Close would be best since I usually can’t get away for more than an afternoon.”
Gage smiled. “Oh, yeah. I’m going out to Pistol Rock soon; it’s not far from here. A great climb.” He hesitated for two beats, then pushed ahead. “You shouldn’t climb alone and I know your sisters aren’t nature girls. Want to join me? You know, as friends.”
So this wasn’t a date. It was just two people recreating together? She was probably stupid to agree considering she was attracted to him and he just said he wasn’t the least interested in her. Jonquil decided she’d never been that smart anyway. But she wouldn’t mention the outing to her sisters, who would make more of it than warranted. “Sure. Let me check my calendar. I’ll text you with the days I can wiggle free for an afternoon.”
“Great.”
The silence this time wasn’t as uncomfortable, but Jonquil didn’t let it linger before asking about the upcoming mountain bike festival in July. She might as well pick his brain on local recreation, even if her secret longings would have to remain that way. Secret.
Gage was still at the office at seven o’clock. The skeleton staff he kept on in the summer had all gone home hours earlier and he promised himself when he finished proofing the advertising copy for the mountain bike festival that he would find some dinner and relax in front of the television for the night.
His impromptu hike with Jonquil a few days earlier came back to him again and he smiled. When he gave her half a chance, she was really good company. Much better than her little sister, who would be fun to flirt with if that’s all she was interested in. Their lunch was enough for him to be sure that they didn’t have enough in common for anything more. Even if he were interested in a real relationship. Which he wasn’t.
A door slammed and he nearly reached for the Glock he carried at the small of his back when he heard high heels clicking along the hallway. The footsteps weren’t the smooth gait you expected from a woman, but half tripping and uneven.
Gage rose from his chair just as Natalie staggered in, her hair in disarray, her linen jacket missing a couple of buttons and gaping open over a camisole. A smudge on her face looked suspiciously like a bruise. He hurried to her. “What happened? Are you okay?”
Natalie slumped against him, crying. “I’m sorry, I thought I was being smart, but I’ve messed up everything.” She sobbed and gasped between the words, clinging to him like she hadn’t done since they were kids.
“What happened?” He led her to one of the chairs facing his desk. “Do you need to see a doctor?”
“No, I’m fine, really.” She sank into the chair and covered her face with her hands, still crying, but not as hard as before. “I did something really stupid. I thought I knew. I mean, I couldn’t miss, but then everything went wrong and now I’m in big trouble.”
Gage sat across from her and took her hands, his
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